Edwin b



EDWIN R. WHITNEY,.OB` PLATTSBURG, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TOV HIMSELF AND JOSEPH v-lSRAZER-, OF SAME PLACE.` i

Letters Paten-t No. 76,368. dated April 7, 1868-.

IMPROVED GAR-COUPLING.

TO ALL WHOB'II-T -MAY GONOERN:

Be it known that I, EDWiN R. WHITEY, oi' Plnttsburg, in the county of Clinton, Vand State oi' New York, have invented a` new and improved CarCoupling; and Ido hereby declare that the following isnull, clear, and

Vexact description thereof', which will enable others skilled in the'nrt to make and use the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, formingr a part of this specification.

The drawing represents a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improved car-coupling.

lThis invention relates to a new ear-coupling, which is so arranged that it can be wholly operated from the platform or top of the cars. The object; of the invention is to avoid the accidents frequently occurring in coupling cars, and to` facilitate theoperation of uncoupling.

The invent-ion consists in the use of a revolving four-armed cross, which is mounted on an arbor, having its bearings in the coupling-box, and around one arm 'of which the couplingdink is laid. The cross is, by n. suitable pawl ordog, prevented from turning while the link is inserted, and only by withdrnwinfr the pawl will the cross be released. The pawl is withdrawn by means of a bar which reaches up through the platform ofthe car. For coupling, the linl' pushed against the upright arm of the cross, and will thereby turn the saule baule.: so as to become locked.' The device is thus made self-coupling, and can be unconpled from the platform or rooi` of a car, by raising the aforesaid bar.

A represents the coupling-box of a railroad-car, madeof' ordinary or suitable material. B is a. horizontal arbor, having its bearings in the sides offthe box A. C is a four-armed cross, mounted or hung upon thearbor B, so as to revolve with or on the same. The position of the arbor` and the length of the arms of the cross, are such that when two of the arms are in a horizontal position, their upper edges will be about on a level with the bottom of the coupling-chamber in thel box A, while the upper vertical arm will reach to about the top oi` that chamber, as shown on the left-hand side coupling-box in the drawing. D is a dog, pivoted at its rear enti to the box, itsiront end reaching to the rear edge of the lower arm of the cross.` E is :i spring, by which the end of the dog D is held up, as shown. The upper front corner oi' the dog D is bevelled, as shown. F is a horizontal lever, pivoted near its middle to the upper part of the coupling-box` beinrar at its front end connected Y with a bar, a., which reaches up through the platform of the car,` or through the box of the saine. b is a bar suspended from the rear end of' the-lever F, and reaching down i'ar enough to be in Contact with the upper edge ofzthe dog D. Gr is the link, of suitable or ordinary construction.

When the link is to be inserted, the arms of the cross are in respective horizontal and vertical positions,

,as on the left-hand side in the drawing. When the link is pushed in it' strikes the upper vertical arm of thel cross, and only the dog D- offers resistance to the-rear horizontal arm of- 'the cross, in the attempt to turn the latter. l3nt as the lower rear corner oi' the rear horizontal arm of the cross rests upon the bevelled edge ol' the dog, thepressure of'the link will sulice to depress the dog, (see right-hand side coupling-'box in drawing) and thereby the end of the link will bring the formerly upright arm of the cross into a horizontal position, while the former horizontal front arm is now erect in the coupling-box, within the link, us seen on the left-hand side in the drawing. The link will now be locked. as itcannot be drawn out, the frontedgeo` the dog preventing the crossf'roin turning back.

For unconpling, the bar a must he'pulled, thereby'the arm I; of the levcris depressed, throwing the dog D down, and thus releasing theeross, C. The link can then be` easily withdrawn. `While the bar a is being raised, v

the parts are in th'e p osition shown 4on the right-hand side in the drawing. It' desired, the parts maybe retained -in that position by means oi' a. pawl, c', which ts into a recess provided on alug, d, nhich projects from the lever F. ln that onse the parts will be held so that the cross remains released, Athereby preventing th'e same from coupling a link. The pawl c, being connected'with arod, e, which projects up through the platform ofthe enr, can be thrown out of the lever F, to lock the cross. Thevcoupling or uncoupling can then be fully con* trolled from the platform or top of the cur. But'the pawl c can, if desired, be altogether omitted, as it might be required only in a. few special cases. y I

Having thus described luy invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,- is- 1. The construction ofthe. revolving four-armed cross, C, pivoted dog D, bent spring E, I ever F, and bar b, ail arranged and operating as described for the purposqspecied. l

2. The above, iu combinuion with the paxwl a, fitting into :L recess in a lug, d, projecting from fixe lever F, as sen fornh, l

' The above specification of my invention signed y me, this 12th dayof September, 1867.

i E. R. WHITNEY.

Witnesses:

D. S. McMnsTER,

A. B. TAETs. 

